Home Design Ideas - Custom Furnishing & Window Treatments

When one thinks about designing a room with a theme, there is one element very important in home design, which one often forgets is the window treatments. A majority of people buy drapery as a late addition, something that needs to go up but does not really matter. The problem is the window treatments does matter and it should be a vital decision when you are designing your furnishings.

Selecting the right kind of custom window furnishing can be amazingly complex. If you choose the wrong kind or the wrong color, it can completely ruin the design that you have. Finding the best curtains for your room can lead to a flow in style that will have any professional interior designer borrowing from your idea for future projects. When a window treatment works, it really works.

If you intend to select to select window treatments for your home, but feel unsure of where to start, there are a few tips that will help make finding the right window curtains much convenient for you.

Do not Use Single Curtain Design & Color Theme for the Complete Home

This is actually a blunder that most of the people commit. They choose a curtain style and they set the same curtains theme into each room of the house, whether it looks good with the interior decoration or not.

The simple fact is that every room can have a different curtain style, unless you are working with an open floor concept and you will not want a child themed curtain in a living room any more than you would want bold and luxurious window coverings in a child's room.

Light in the Area is Important Too

When it comes to windows, not all of them produce the same amount of lighting and this will affect the type of drapes that you use. Drapes that are heavy can block out a lot of light and this works well in a bedroom, especially bedrooms that offer amazing views of the sunrise. Sheer drapes are excellent for sunrooms that do not need a lot of privacy. Sheers provide a light airy feel that work wonderfully in many spaces. When you know the amount of light coming through the window, you can plan accordingly.

Custom Furnishing Fabric and Material Selection

There are many different furnishing fabric materials, texture, embossed and fiber blends that you can utilize for a curtain, but you should choose fabric or materials that doe not fade, especially if the room gets a lot of sunlight. Although silks may seem luxurious for a room, they are better left on the pillows, other accents since silk curtains will fade quickly, and you will be left with dull and hideous looking curtains on your windows.

Your Privacy is Important

Sheer curtains are one of the more liked window treatments. Although, they look absolutely magnificent in many different areas, but are not the best style of drape to purchase, if you require to have a little privacy since you can see through most sheer drapes. Bathrooms and bedrooms are the two places where you should never have sheer drapes solely. Pair them with a darker curtain or window covering that does just that covers.

Lastly, If you are still unsure how to use curtains in your space, I would strongly recommend reading through interior design magazines or browsing through a few show rooms to gather a few ideas before applying them to you room.

Home Design Often Centered Around Kitchens and Family Rooms

Home design is big business and the options are as limitless as the imaginations of the builders. Two spaces included in every home design are the kitchen and family rooms. These two rooms are the common areas of the home, used by every member of a household and the styles of these rooms typically reflect this. Kitchens and family rooms are also being combined in large, open floor plans to incorporate the two most used rooms in a home.

Kitchens are big business, and from the appliances, the surfaces, the cabinets and floors, the options on materials are vast. The kitchen is also a room where a lot of time and even more money are spent. This room is often periodically renovated and redesigned to suit different owners of a house. The cooking needs are often considered when designing to suit an owner. If the kitchen will be used by a gourmet cook, then the appliances and rest of the kitchen will typically reflect this. Commercial ovens, cook tops and refrigerators are becoming more and more popular in private homes as well.

Families will often desire that their kitchen have enough space. Counter space, storage and room to move around and even eat in are very popular in current kitchen design schemes. Many homes are centered around a large open area that will include not only the traditional needs of a kitchen, but will open up into a larger gathering space for the family. Sofas, televisions, dining areas and more are all incorporated into one area, to encourage more togetherness and comfort.

Living rooms, dens, family rooms, whatever the name, the idea behind them is always the same. They are the gathering spot for residents of a home to come together. These rooms are the most likely to reflect the inhabitants of the home. Whether there is family, couple or single person living in a home, it is usually evident in the living room. Designing a room for a larger group will most often include multiple seating areas, entertainment areas, and using this space to its greatest potential is important.

Televisions, surround sound, computers and other electronics are all typically used in this room and elegant and tasteful incorporation of these devices is possible. There are many furniture stores that now specialize in making furniture that integrates technology seamlessly with elegant design.

There are many design software products and websites that can aid anyone interested in beginning a design project in their kitchen or family room, or for those interested in combining the two. Many of these services can provide blueprint imaging so that you will be able to decide everything you want, or at least can afford, online and without penalties for changing your mind.

Interior Designs - Home Design Trends

Home design trends keep changing from time to time. New ones quickly replace trends that were in vogue yesterday. Here are some of the home design trends.

Personal Space

Everyone needs personal breathing space. Another trend that has progressed is the conception of private space in homes. The amenity of a private and dedicated space for each one in the home is becoming popular these days with even couples wanting space to spend some time alone seldom.

Fashionable Garages

Today's garages have gone under an entire reform as homeowners prefer contemporary garages equipped with various luxuries such as cabinet and storage systems, mini refrigerators, air conditioning and residential-looking flooring. Decked out, upscale garages have removed the image of gloomy and grease that is normally associated with them.

Rooms added for Serenity

A separate one-stop zone for relaxation is another very popular new design trend in homes. These serenity rooms are meant for a variety of relaxation and fitness activities such as yoga, meditation, exercising, steam baths, etc.

Renovate Your Outdoor Area

Convert your outdoor space into "warm zones" and spend more time outdoors, people living in colder climates can are now converting their outdoor spaces. A few great examples of such convertibles are patios, driveways and walk ways. This makes winter maintenance easy and spring and fall more enjoyable.

Add-on Extra room with the Master bedroom

People are attaching master bedrooms today with an additional room that serve up as a 'snoring room' for partners who snore. Instead of heading for an uncomfortable couch, now snoring sleepers can find their way toward a much more comfortable sleeping quarter. A typical bedroom for snorers is equipped with a double bed and chair, with easy access to the amenities of the master suite.

Home Design - When to Call in the Professionals

When you're redesigning your home, the first question you need to ask yourself is whether you're going to hire a professional or do it yourself. The answer depends on what you're planning on doing.

There are plenty of things that you can do yourself quickly and easily: painting, putting up shelves and cupboards, all that kind of thing. Anything you can find in the DIY shop will come with instructions that should let anyone who is reasonably experienced in DIY put it up.

However, if you want to do something more complicated - converting a room into a bathroom or a kitchen, or building an extension, for example - then you're going to need a professional.

When it comes to home design, however, it can be tough to know exactly who to hire. For basic things, you need a handyman, but for more complex projects you might need a builder. To do anything in the bathroom, you probably need a plumber. If you're giving your whole house a makeover, you might even want to hire a professional designer, who will look at the overall picture and come up with ideas to make your house a better place to live in.

While pro designers can be expensive, they are usually worth the money - you wouldn't think it from the amateur jobs you see on some TV makeover shows, but they really do know what they're doing. There are some cowboys out there, though, so make sure the person you're used has all the relevant qualifications: it's best to ask for references, as that means you can go and see for yourself houses that they have worked on previously, and see if you like them. Be careful on judging them simply because they're not your taste, however - remember that a good designer will reflect what the people asked for, not just force their own tastes on people.

Luxury Dream Home Designs

Everyone wants their own home to be distinctive and different from all the other houses in the nearby area. It should have all the features and specialties which are a must for a luxurious lifestyle so that one can enjoy his stay at his home to the fullest. Only if one has all the amenities in his home, he can call it to be his dream home. People have different needs and wishes which they want to be fulfilled while modifying their home. Effective lighting, flooring and wall texture are the basic modifications which can drastically change the appearance of the house. The perfect blend of color and texture of tiles is necessary to make the home look more appealing.

In order to modify the home the way one wishes, he needs to employ professional and experienced home designers. These designers need to understand what one wants his home to look like, what are his preferences and also should prepare rough drafts so that the customer is satisfied that his demands are being taken care of. Then the designers should prepare drafts in the computer so that the customers can get to know what will be the appearance of their home after the work is completed and if any more modifications or alterations are needed they can be performed. The last stage is the preparation of the final drawing of the construction with all the minute details, these drawings are then to be given to the builders who shall bring one's dream home into reality. The basic requirement which should not be avoided during the preparation of these drawings is that not even the slightest detail is overlooked because this might end up in spoiling the design of the house.

The designers that one opts for should have unrivalled artistic and technical skills so that they can provide him with the most recent and innovative designs. They should be co-operative enough to tackle all the obstacles which occur during the complete process of designing the house and experienced enough to answer all the queries of their customers. They should put in the maximum efforts so that they can come up with the most attractive design without compromising with the wants of their customers. The house should also have an aesthetic nature apart from all the other features. Efforts taken by them in this regard shall certainly lead to full satisfaction of their customers which shall earn them goodwill in the market.

Dream Home Designs For Your Dream Home

Dream home designs are made by award winning architects and experts who are hired to design the same. The clients who wish to make a home of their dreams can contact these professionals. The clients are generally asked for their inputs so as to know their preferences and tastes and the kind of design they are looking out for. The experts then work on these ideas and change them into a plan. The clients can have a look at the blueprint so made and can reject the things that they do not like.

Generally, in designing such homes, architects prefer to only adhere to the clients' ideas because they aim to fulfill the dreams of their clients and make a home consisting of every aspect of their dreams. The procedure followed generally begins with the concept to drawing the blueprint and then enjoying the dreams. Dream home designs take a longer time to work on because a lot of specific requirements are to be kept in mind by the architect. The advantage of hiring an expert for the same is that the client can get the best possible construction and also make changes in plans if they do not meet their wishes.

Dream homes are very luxurious and elegantly designed. These are usually houses having abundant space, scenic views and all the modern amenities one can think of. They are generally mansions, bungalows, row houses and other such luxurious categories of homes. The provision of privacy is an important factor for such homes because the important people living in such grand houses do not like interference from neighboring areas. Hence these types of houses are generally constructed in areas having greenery and are a little away from crowded areas of the city.

Dream homes have all the modern facilities that are available to make them even more luxurious. The furniture used in the house is grand and is very classy. The designing of such homes is very elegant and the choice of colors is always given special importance. The other factors like the curtains, lighting are also worked upon keeping in mind the utility of the room and the feel required in the same. Kitchens are made with the modern appliances which make cooking an enjoyable experience and areas like the bathrooms have all requirements for relaxation met. Spas and Jacuzzi tubs are built in to give the best experience.

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Victorian-Style Home Design Ideas

These days, most people believe that 'simple is better'. You may notice that most houses built today have minimalist style. As a result, we often find that one house is not so different from the other. If you are the type of person with quite an eccentric taste, you might not like the idea of minimalism. You will likely to expect something different, especially when you are designing your house. Instead of following the trend of using modern, minimalistic home design ideas, you probably would like to give Victorian style a try. Because of its complexity, people tend to avoid designing their house in this manner. Therefore, you can be confident that your house will be unique and one of a kind.

This unique home design idea emphasizes on the use of beautiful and sophisticated decorative pieces as well as furniture pieces. Just as the name suggests, this style is inspired by the architectural style commonly utilized during the era of Queen Victoria of England. The houses and buildings built during that period were elegant and luxurious, due to the choice of furniture and colors. The one thing that you have to keep in mind is that building a Victorian-style house might cost you a large sum of money. Even so, the result will not disappoint you. If, however, you are running on a limited budget, you can just take some important aspects of this style to decorate your house. Nowadays, there are also lots of second-hand Victorian-inspired furniture pieces that you can find with relatively cheap price and good quality.

The walls of a Victorian-style house need to be painted in bold colors. Try using dark yet lively colors such as ruby or sapphire. You can also use wallpapers with floral motifs. Choose wallpapers with smaller patterns if your house is small, so that it won't appear smaller than it really is. Opt for wood flooring and cover with luxurious carpet. For the curtains, use materials such as velvet or brocade for that Victorian look. And to decorate, you can put antique figurines, candles, flowers, or oriental dolls in a display cupboard or on a table.

Remember that Victorian style is all about uniqueness and being different. This home design idea is not just for anyone. You need to be artistic and creative when it comes to decorating your house and the house that you have always dreamed of is yours

The Best of Green Home Designs

Green home designs use materials, furniture, and accessories that are environmentally friendly or reusable. This type of design uses long lasting materials as well as those that can be renewed. Green home designs focus on recycling material and making sure that material is non-toxic. Green home designs use very few items that are brand new. Green materials such as cork, bamboo and eucalyptus are primarily use today in home design because they are earth friendly. For example, the extraction of the cork does not destroy the tree. Being green means that you will salvage or restore items whenever possible.

There are so many options in today's market for green flooring. These flooring materials can be sand down, painted, or refinished. All this can be done with using material that contains volatile organic compounds or VOC's. The finishes and glue used for some floor installations can contain formaldehyde resins. It is important to use non-toxic materials with little to no VOC within the sealants, cleaners, finishes, adhesives, polishes, etc. As a result you will create a home that has less toxicity in the air and is healthier for the planet.

Nothing is guaranteed 100%, so even buying materials with little to no VOC doesn't assure you that it is completely safe. This is because there are so many chemicals produced today. Regardless of that, if you want to remodel your home using green home design techniques, you need to select products that are environmentally healthy.

Every area of your home can benefit from green design. When constructing or renovating your home, be sure to install many windows, glass doors, skylights to allow the natural light to enter. These measures conserve energy and make the home bright and inviting. Concrete floors are very stylish, an come in many patterns, colors, and textures. This flooring is one of the greenest because you can install it without the uses of chemicals like glue or finishes. Concrete can also be used as kitchen counter tops, which have become very popular. They are natural in appearance and create a modern looking style. This material also works well in the bathroom and on the fireplace. Recycled glass is another option for green kitchens. This is a very versatile product that can come in different colors. Try recycled glass as a kitchen counter top, back splash, or even tiles. Recycled glass is a great alternative in green kitchen design. Green Building Supply provides recycled glass in various sizes. The prices range from $1,129.00 to $4,223.00 for 30" x 54" to 60" x 108" slabs, and each are 1 1/4" thick. You choose from five different color palettes.

Appliances are major purchases for you home. You need to think about function, and style, but most importantly energy saving capability. Whirlpool sells a Whirlpool Black 21.7 Energy Star Certified Side by Side Refrigerator for $765.00; item #ED2KVEXVB. Energy efficient appliances are readily available in the market today. It is actually very easy to to find appliance that save energy and water usage, and there is something for every budget. Be sure to recycle your old appliance properly.

When planning green home design, install a lot insulation for your ceiling and walls. This the best way to help your house be energy efficient. Make sure the the insulation material is earth-friendly. High quality glass windows, doors, and skylight with multiple panes help to also conserve energy. The cost of energy is steadily increasing. Being energy conscious makes good economic sense. After your initial investment, you will save money, reducing the world's exposure to harmful chemicals, and aid the environment.

How to Budget Your New Home Designs

You want a new home design but you have no idea if you can afford it or not. There are lots of options to choose from, yet you want the home design that suits your taste and of course your wallet. If you want to have some ideas, you need to check out some home design and house builder sites that provide amazing listing of new home designs and styles to get the house design of your dreams.

The first thing you need to do is estimate your house, meet up with the home builders who make houses that are similar in size, quality, and features to the home you want. Home builders will tell you how much per square foot they frequently charge for home structure. They can also give you an approximate idea of what your dream home might cost. Ask them if they have already some price lists, this will both lessen the waste of time.

Expect some features to cost more like new furniture, new paints, new landscape and etc. The most costly areas in building a home are regularly the bathrooms and the kitchen. The number of windows and the size and quality of windows can also change the charge. Vaulted ceilings and high roof pitches can increase the cost of a home design. When you want to use other homes to calculate an estimate, be sure the home has the same style and features of the home you plan to build.

According to About.com, "the cost per square foot is often higher for a small home than that of a larger home. When building a larger home, the cost of expensive items (such as a furnace or kitchen) is spread over more square footage. Consequently, a larger home may have a lower square footage cost than a smaller home. Also, it usually costs less to build a two-story home when compared to a one-story home that has the same square footage. This is because a two-story home will have a smaller roof and foundation. Plumbing and ventilation are more compact in two-story homes."

Check all the sizes of your house, from the living area, dining, kitchen and bathroom. Have your home size rounded up or down to increments of two feet. This reduces wasted materials. Also, the shape of your home is important, better yet take a picture all the different sides of your house. In this way, house builders will have a draft beforehand before the ocular.

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Home Floor Plan Design Software - Total 3D Home Design Deluxe

For some, the sheer number of home floor plan design software may be simply overwhelming. Choosing from the myriad of available options and selecting the best among them becomes quite a challenge. Although there are definitely a lot of applications out there that should be apt for all sorts of situations, there are certain circumstances that require specialized designer software. One such application is Total 3D Home Design Deluxe.

At a Glance

The publisher of this awesome floor plan design program is none other than Individual Software. They've done a great job with Total 3D Home Design Deluxe which happens to be an excellent program that lets users start their designs from scratch. However, one of the downsides of this software is that its customization options are not as extensive as other more advanced programs available in the market.

However, considering that it is available for only $24.99, it definitely delivers value for money. Users who want to do a little experimentation in their remodeling or perhaps even start designing the dream house for the future will definitely have a blast with Total 3D Home Design Deluxe.

Main Tools and Features

What's great about this program is that it lets users literally drag and drop pre-made room layouts into their scenes making the entire process a whole lot easier. Once they're in place, it becomes a matter of adjusting the room's size depending on the type of floor plan the user wants to come up with. Those who reach dead ends in terms of creativity may want to venture into the program's huge library that holds tens of thousands of actual product images to serve as an inspiration for their own design.

After the floor plan is completed, this program's 3D walk through feature lets users take a virtual tour of their newly designed home. This is definitely a handy feature that becomes useful as it provides users with an actual preview of how their new home will look like once the remodeling process is completed.

Summary

At the end of the day, it is true that there are a lot more floor plan design software out there that can provide more features and functions than Total 3D Home Design Deluxe. However, what sets this particular product apart is that it is a quick, easy, and inexpensive home design application that should be able to serve its primary purpose. Folks who are looking to add minimal details into their remodeling plans or those who simply want to explore different interior design ideas will definitely find this program handy.